Enriching Community Through Montessori Excellence

OfficialBoardofDirectors

OfficialBoardofDirectors

MeetingMinutesMonday,May21,2018

TheOfficialBoardMeetingofNewDiscoveriesMontessoriAcademyofHutchinson,MNwasheldatNewDiscoveriesMontessoriAcademy,Hutchinson,MN.

1. CallMeetingtoOrder–Themeetingwascalledtoorderat5:29p.m.

Votingmemberspresent:TaraOberg,PatrickSelchert,PeggyEnerson,ShariColvin,LisaRahkola,PattiCogley.Absent:TonyAshwill,AmandaSundblad,JenniePirnie.Non-votingmembers:DaveConrad,TaraErickson,KirstenKinzler.Absent:ChuckHerdegen.Guests:none

2. SpotlightReport–Self-CareSeminars–TaraEricksonattendedCompassionFatigueEducatorTrainingatSWWCinMarshallwith2colleaguesonMay3rd,thereareplanstosharethistrainingwithNDMAstaffthroughoutthenextschoolyear.LisaRahkolasharedaboutsomeself-carepodcaststhatshepreviouslysharedwiththeNDMAstaff.

3. Agenda–MS(Enerson/Selchert)toapprovetheagendawithcorrecteddateandtime,allaye;motioncarries.

4. Consentagenda–MS(Enersen/Cogley)toapprovetheconsentagendawithpersonnelchangesbeingthe

resignationofKarisaShowalterandColleenYoung,reassignmentofRebeccaReinke,andnewemployment,AlyshaBredesen,E2teacher,allaye;motioncarries.

a. MinutesofMarch19,2018Meetingb. SubmittedCommitteeReportsc. Personnelchanges–approveassubmitted.

5. Financials

a. ReceivedApril2018financialstatements.b. MS(Oberg/Colvin)toapproveApril2018expendituresandreceiptsreport,rollcallvoteunanimous;

motioncarries.

6. Reportsa. Executive&AssociateDirectors–pleaseseetheattachedreport.Colvinreadtheproposedchangesto

ourbylawstotheboard.StillwaitingtohearCSPexpansiongrant.b. MS(Colvin/Enerson)toapprovethesubmissionofaK-12TeachersWorkingCooperativelywithOthers

grantbytheMeekerCooperativeElectricTrustforupto3,500.00,rollcallvoteunanimous;motioncarries.

i. EnvironmentalEducationUpdate–5thand6thgraderswereattheAudubonCenteroftheNorthWoodsforseveraldaysattheendofApril.MeekerCountyCooperativerepresentativesvisitedtheschooltolookatourcompostingsystem,andtheywereimpressedwithboththeprogramtheschoolhadsetupandthestudentsworkinthecompostingprocess.Therewasanoutingto

1000FifthAvenueSE,Hutchinson,Minnesota55350320.234.6362(w)320.234.6300(f)www.newdiscoveries.org

1000FifthAvenueSE,Hutchinson,Minnesota55350320.234.6362(w)320.234.6300(f)www.newdiscoveries.org

Enriching Community Through Montessori Excellence

HarmonyRiverbyseveralstudentsinthespeechprogramtodeliverseedlingstheyplanted.Children’shousestudentstookthetomatoplantstheygrewfromseedstotheFoodShelf.Thirdgraderswillbeplantingtwobirch,twospruce,twomaple,andtwoappletreesattheendofMay.FourthgradersattendedNatureFieldDayatthefairgrounds.

ii. AcademicTestingandAchievementUpdate–MCA’scompleted.ResultsshouldbehereinJuly.iii. EnrollmentUpdate–steadyat207students.iv. ActivitiesandHappeningsrelatedtotheschool,staff,students,families,community–

c. BoardActivities–BoardwillcontinuetoworkonstrategicplaninJuneandbeginabookstudyonboardcharterschoolboardgovernancebeginninginAugust.

7. OldBusiness

8. NewBusiness

a. MS(Enerson/Selchert)toapproveanincreaseinthelineofcreditwithCitizensBanknottoexceed$400,000,rollcallvoteunanimous;motioncarries.

b. MS(Colvin/Rahkola)toapprovecontractamendmentandrevisedgoalsbetweenAudubonCenteroftheNorthWoodsandNewDiscoveriesMontessoriAcademy,KinzlerhasbeenworkingwithAudubontosetthegoalssothattheyarehelpfultoourorganization,allaye;motioncarries.

c. MS(Enerson/Cogley)toapprovereviewofRevisionofPolicy542P–Enrollment,allaye;motioncarries.d. Acceptedagrantof$500fromJumpRopeforHeart&MNSHAPEtogotoPhyEdbudget.e. AcceptedagrantfromBurichfoundationtopurchaseukelelesforschoolmusicprogram.f. MS(Rahkola/Colvin)toapproveupdatestoCoreValuesclarifyingstatementswithadditionoflearners

insteadofstudents,discussionbystaffaboutwhatsomeofthewordinginthecorevaluesbeingunclearpromptedthesechanges,allaye;motioncarries.

g. ApproveFY19StrategicPlan–nextmeeting.h. ClosethemeetingaspermittedbyMNStatute13D.05Subd.3(a)forconsiderationofPersonnelIssues

relatedtoannualBoardAppointedAdministratorevaluation–meetingremainedopenattherequestoftheexecutivedirector.

i. Boardstatementregardingadministratorevaluation–BoardChairrecognizesthattheExecutiveDirectorreviewfromstaffandboardratedthedirectormidwaybetweenproficientandexemplaryontheinstrumentused.Theboardispleasedwiththeoverallperformanceofthedirectorandwillrenewhiscontractforanotheryear.

j.

9. UpcomingMeetings/Events/Announcementsa. StrategicplanningJune18,2018–4:30p.m.b. Nextboardmeeting,June18,2018–5:30p.m.c. FinanceCommitteeMeeting,June11,2018–1:00p.m.d. Policy/GovernanceCommitteeMeeting,June11,2018–2:00p.m.

10. Adjournment6:36p.m.

Respectfullysubmitted,TaraErickson

Providing a quality, comprehensive public education within a Montessori Context

Executive Director Report for NDMA’s Board of Directors – Dave Conrad Monday, May 21, 2018

1. Current Enrollment: 2017-2018

- As of today, the following numbers reflect enrollment: last month current

a. 3 years 12

b. 4 years 24 preschool total: 36 36

c. Kindergarten 24

d. First grade 20

e. Second grade 21

f. Third grade 33

g. Fourth grade 20

h. Fifth grade 34 1

i. Sixth grade 16 2 school-age total: 168 171

204 207

2. Principal (Associate Director) Evaluation

- I will delay until NDMA’s June Regular Board meeting to share a summary of the results of Ms.

Kinzler’s annual evaluation. As I mentioned last month, I am shifting gears this year to the

Evaluation of Minnesota’s School Principals, developed by the Minnesota Association of School

Administrator, the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association, the Minnesota

Association of Secondary School Principals and the Board of School Administrators. This

evaluation was developed “. . . so that superintendents, or their designees could use a research-

based, competency-linked evaluation process designed to assess current performance levels and

to promote continuous improvement.” I am glad to be using a framework that is Minnesota-

based.

3. Facilities

A. Purchase of Property/NDABC - No updates.

B. Property Tax

- Activituy in both the House and the Senate was basically non-existent after the tax

committee in the Senate, and the education committee in the House heard their respective

bills.

- New Century Academy is pursuing the possibility of taking legal action against the legislature

to recoup the property tax we have paid since 2011 (more than $700,000.00 between NCA

and NDMA). I have contacted a couple of attorneys to explore whether or not we

can/should pursue this. I would ask New Discoveries Montessori Academy’s Board of

Directors if you wish to pursue this with NCA, and any other charter school that would like

to do so.

1000 Fifth Avenue SE, Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350 320-234-6362, phone www.newdiscoveries.org 320-234-6300, fax

Providing a quality, comprehensive public education within a Montessori Context

4. Teacher Observations

- I completed the third round of observations and post-observation conferences prior to my

self-imposed May 21st deadline.

5. Grant Applications

- I submitted a 3M grant last week for $2,525.13 for the purchase of science materials for

Elementary I.

- Cyndi Lauer – music – was just informed that the grant she wrote earlier this year to Burich

Foundation was approved for the purchase of 28 ukuleles with cases and supplies. They will

be used for our enhanced music program for our grade level expansion beginning next year.

- We have been asked to submit a K-12 Teachers Working Cooperatively with Others grant by

the Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust for up to $3,500.00. I would ask for the Board’s

approval to give teachers an opportunity to apply for the funds.

- We will not receive grant funding for the sensory support grant I submitted to Hutch Health

Foundation earlier this year.

- Representatives from Meeker Power Cooperative were here recently to celebrate the

implementation of the food composting grant this year. They observed the process, took

photographs, and visited with staff and administration. They will report back to their board

and co-op members regarding the progress we’ve made relative to the grant.

6. Academic Achievement

- Please note academic achievement & assessment information found in Mrs. Kinzler’s report.

7. Environmental Education

- Please note Ms. Rahkola’s information presented at today’s meeting regarding

environmental education updates.

8. Board Training

- We will discuss upcoming plans for Board Training at today’s Board Meeting.

9. Open Meeting

- We will be considering an update of our Bylaws relative to Open Meeting law. Specifically,

we will clarify guidelines for remote access to meetings.

10. Director Evaluation

- We will discuss Director Evaluation at today’s Board Meeting.

Director of Instruction Kirsten K Kinzler Board Report Monday, May 18, 2015

1) Data/Assessments – Grades 3-6 completed the MCA state assessment prior to the deadline with only minimal complications with Pearson (the online vendor). We have finished the NWEA assessment with Kindergarten, are finishing up with E2 and beginning the assessment(s) E1 this week. We will be assessing through the end of the year. Special thanks to all those that help with the assessments and for your flexibility and understanding as we complete this important process.

2) Behavior – Teachers and Teaching Partners met during JEPD to review Playground/Recess Rules and talk about

Before School Care. The Cooperative Juggling game was a lot of fun!

3) Leadership Team – Continued work on weekly JEPD topics and Sustainability Plan.

4) Instruction – E1 Celebration Music Program – Wow! What “Oceans of Fun” the students had performing their songs for their Celebration Music Program on Thursday, May 14th! The multi-purpose room was full! Following the program, the students presented their State Floats to their families and did ‘swimmingly’!

Summer School – We currently have 28 children signed up for Summer Learning Discoveries. There are still openings for this program so pass the word!

Summer 2015 Summer Learning Discoveries will occur from 9:00AM through 12:00PM on the following dates:

Friday, June 19 Monday, June 22-Friday, June 26 Monday, June 29-Tuesday, June 30

5) Staff – We have been busy interviewing candidates for next year vacancies – Special Education, Physical Education, Elementary Education.

6) Other – Kindergarten Roundup – On Saturday, we held a Kindergarten Roundup for next year’s Kindergartners. We had 5 families attend! We still have openings in our Children’s House so spread the word! Family Satisfaction Surveys – At the E1 Celebration Music Program, surveys were distributed to families to complete while waiting (or hand in at a later date). We received 18 that evening and sent home a reminder to families today the importance of providing their feedback regarding the NDMA program.

See Dave’s Weekly Update/Board Report for other information…

4

S M T W T F S 1 4: Last Day of School

1 2 3 4 5 6 0 5: End-of-Year Prof Dev

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8-10: Montessori Training

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 16-18: Montessori Training

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19, 22-26: Summer Discoveries

28 29 30 29-30: Summer Discoveries

June 2015